Car truck side frame



Aug. 29, 1944.

K.F.NYSTROM CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAMES Filed Oct. 12. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l llll lll]

n n l f I 4 l l l lllnll/llllllll Aug. 29, 1944. K, F, NYSTROM 2,357,020

CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAMES Filed oct. 12. 1942 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1944 mirri-:n STATES PATENT orifice CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAME Karl F. Nystrom, Milwaukee, Wis. Application October 12, 1942, Serial No. q461,810 8 Clalms. (Cl. 105-206) l My invention relates to truck side frames, more especially intended for railroad freight car trucks, which involve top chords and bottom chords, wherein the tension will substantially equal the compression with both chords adapted to carry substantially equal portions of the load.

The invention contemplates a side frame with a bottom chord provided with a catenary curve or curvature which approximatesthe deflection curve approached by the member under a load and wherein the load transmitting elements of the truck between the chords have floating relation with the bottom chord, tending to check longitudinal vibration of the two side frames and eliminating secondary stresses.

The invention more specincally stated contemplates a truck side frame, whether of cast metal or of built-up construction, with a bottom chord formed as stated and involving a substantially U-shape stirrup Whose ends are intimately connected with the top chord of the frame while thevcurved bottom portion of the stirrup (having a curvature similar to that of the bottom chord) has loose bearing relation with the bottom chord and fioatingly supports a similarly curved spring plank with means for restricting longitudinal movement of the spring plank which in turn preferably is provided with an independent loosely held spring seat.

The invention in its specific embodiment presents a built-up truck side frame composed of a top chord and a bottom chord, preferably of steel tubing or tubular cross-section, whose ends are welded or intimately connected with the journal boxes at each end of the frame through the medium of load distributing members which afford large welding surfaces and are disposed about the tops and sides of the journal boxes.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a car truck side frame which involves less metal and less weight than is the case with truck side frames as heretofore constructed, while at the same time possessing the required strength.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readily comprehended from the follow- Fi'gure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a modiiication or alternate form of journal box construction and load distributing member.

ing detailed description of the accompanying Y drawings wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved truck side frame with portions broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one end of the side frame.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, as viewed by the arrows. v

Figures 6 and 7 are similar views showing further modilfications or designs of journal box constructions and distributing members.

My improved car truck side frame as exemplied in the first four figures comprises a truss composed of a top chord I0 and a bottom chord II of steel tubing of oblong or other suitable cross-sectional configuration, whose ends are brought into juxtaposition and intimately connected with the journal boxes I2 at each end of the side frame through the medium of load distributing plates I3 which are formed to fit onto the tops of the journal boxes and against the sides thereof as shown in Figure l. The plates I3 are preferably provided with spaced apart vertically disposed gussets I4, I4 at opposite sides and with an intermediate gusset I5. The gussets I4 preferably are made to extend about the journal boxes as shown, while the intermediate gussets I5 merely extend from the tops and one of the'sides of the load distributing plates I3 as shown at the left in Figure l and at the right in Figure V2.

The ends of the chords I0 and II-which are coextensive with the width between the side gussets I4, I4are slotted as shown at I6 (see Figure 2) to receive the intermediate gussets I5; the ends of the chords being intendedl to be in close relation or contact with the gussets I4 and I5 which alTord greater attaching surface between the chords and the load distributing plates; the ends of thechords being welded to the Iliad distributing plates I3 and.- the gusscts It,

In the exemplication of Figure l, the outside gussets I4, I4 are formed to extend about the journal boxes I2 and the load distributing plates `or members I3 and the gussets I4 are welded to the journal boxes I2, providing rigid bearings at the ends of the truss.

'I'he side frame intermediate the arched portion of the top chord and the catenary curved portion of the lower chord II' is provided with a substantially U-shape stirrup I'I. The stirrup I'I is formed from a flanged bar or channel plate, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, bent to provide a curvature similar to that o1 the lower chord II on which it loosely rests; while the intermediate portions at the upper ends of the stirrup are notched or cut-out to receive the top chord l to which the ends are intimately secured or welded as shown at I8 in Figure 1. The bottom curved portion of the stirrup is provided with an opening to receive the upstanding annular rib or lug I9 which is shown welded at 20 to the bottom chord vII; the annular rib or lug I9 being made to extend through the opening in the stirrup and to extend a distance thereabove so as to extend through an opening in the spring plank 2| which is transversely dished or curved to fit the curvature of the stirrup and to rest loosely thereon. The spring plank 2|, which is of channel cross-section, preferably is of width less than the distance between the upstanding side legs of the U-shape stirrup as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The ends of the spring plank 2| are shown provided with filler or spring seat members 22 provided with spring end holding bosses 23. The spring seat members 22 are made arcuate on the bottoms to fit the curvature of the spring plank 2| and the bottomsof the members 22 are socketed to loosely receive the 'upstanding lugs I9 secured to the bottom chords and extending through openings in the stirrup and in the spring plank so that a oating relation between the bottom chord, the stirrup and the spring plank is provided, while longitudinal movement of the spring plank is prevented by the upstanding lug I9, which also maintains the filler or spring seat member in place.

The inner sides of the two sides legs of the stirrup I1 are shown provided with load pads 24 which are suitably secured thereto which effect interlocking relation with the ends of the truck bolster (not shown) against longitudinal movement.

The upper ends of the stirrup Il are also provided with suitable brake hanger brackets 25, which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the stirrup.

The type of journal box and load distributing plate heretofore described as illustrated in Figure 1 is clearly disclosed in Figure 4, Where the bottom of the box is shown provided with a jack plate 26 and the outer end of the box is provided with a combination lid and wedge lug at 21; the jack plate 26, shown welded in place between the gussets I4, being preferably employed on boxes having the rounded bottoms shown in Figure 1.

In Figure I illustrate a modified manner of obtaining a suilcient load distributing juncture between the truss and the journal box. The chords I0 and may be similar to those heretofore described, while the journal box 28 is shown formed of separately constructed sections 29, 30 of different thickness; the section 30 being materially heavier than section 29 and formed to constitute the top and the inner or chord attaching side of the box and is provided with gussets 3| (preferably three in number and spaced apart as shown in Figure 4) which extend transversely of the top and substantially throughout the inner side of the box. The gussets are welded to the box top and side and the ends of the chords I0 and in turn are welded to the boxv section 30 and to the gussets 3|.

In Figure 1, the load distributing plate is shown as a separate element which is welded to the box (which may be cast or pressed) whereas in Figure 5 the top, one side wall of the box and load plate in reality consist of a single unit.

With the box in Figure 5 having a rounded bottom and of unequal thickness, it is shown provided with a jack plate 32, welded or otherwise secured in place with one end or side edge of the plate which is disposed beneath the thinner wall section 28 provided with a lip or flange to compensate for the difference in thickness between the box wall sections.

Figure 6 shows a journal box 33 of substantially equal thickness throughout; the rounded bottom being provided with a jack plate 2l as shown in Figure l, In this exemplication, the load distributing plate 34 differs from that shown in Figure 1 in that the plate extends entirely across and rests on top of the journal box 33 and is provided with a depending flange 3l somewhat removed from the outer side wall of the box. The vertical portion of the plate Il, similar to that shown in Figure 1, terminates at the inner side wall of the box somewhat above the bottom thereof; and the gussets 35 (preferably three in number as in Figure 4) are substantially similar to gusset l5 of Figure 1 and all intimately united with the chords il and by welding. In view of the rounded bottom of the journal box it is also preferably provided with a flat jack plate 20.

A further modification is shown in Figure 'I wherein the journal box 31 is formed with a uniformly heavy wall which, similar to Figure 5, is provided with gusset members 3| secured to the top and one side wall and preferably spaced to receive the slotted ends of the chords I0 and which are welded thereto and therefore directly secured to the journal box, similar to the structure shown in Figure 5.

The journal box 31 is shown provided with a fiat bottom and hence requires no separate jack plate.

My improved truss side frame possesses material advantages over present day type of side frames whose bottom chord has a flat stress member or horizontally disposed spring plank carrying section and with struts disposed through holes in the lower chord which consequently produces a weakness which frequently resulted in train wrecks, entailing great expense. The see-saw action encountered in unit trucks tends to shimmy the truck and the car and in trucks with the flat spring plank carrying section, the friction between the plank and the stress member tends to hold the spring plank in its shifted position; whereas with my improved side frame when the truck starts to shimmy, the oating spring plank is raised by following the catenary curve, absorbing energy and tending to keep the truck frames aligned and the two side frames square; and with the spring plank provided with the curvature of the bottom chord, to conform to the catenary', curve, the load or weight is 'spplied along the catenary curve as the spring plank and the stirrup have iloating relation with the bottom chord.

The stirrup, as previously stated, preferably consists of a bowed channel plate or member which enables the use of a light stirrup with sumcient strength Without necessitating raising the car too high gr disposing the lower chord too low; the stirrup being free to oat and having interlocking engagement which prevents longitudinal movement of the spring plank-a frame in which the exes or stresses are eliminated because of the floating relation between bottom chord, the

stirrup and the spring plank, while the curved spring planktends to check the longitudinal vibration or sawing action oi' the two truck trames.

section, with a separate stirrup in iloating rela-v tion with the bottomdeiiection curve or the curve which the stress member assumes under a, load; and while the exemplincations are believed to be the best embodiments of the invention, structural modications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A car truck side frame comprising, in combination with journal boxes at the ends, a tubular top chord and bottom chord, the intermediate portion of the bottom chord defining a catenary curve, angular load distributing plates adapted to extend across the tops and downwardly at the sides of the journal boxes and provided with radially disposed gussets arranged at opposite sides of the plates, said plates and gussets being intimately secured to the ends of the chords at the sides of the journal boxes, a U-shape stirrup intermediate the two chords with its ends secured to the top chord while the curved lower portion approximates the catenary curve of the bottom chord and loosely rests thereon, a transversely curved spring plank loosely seated in the curved portion of the stirrup and in spaced relation with the sides oi the stirrup, a spring seat member with an arcuate bottom seated in the curved spring plank, and an upstanding lug secured to the bottom chord and disposed through the stirrup, the spring plank and into the spring seat member whereby a, loose holding relation between said elements is provided.

2, A car truck side frame comprising, in combination with a pair of journal boxes, a truss forming top chord and a bottom chord of steel tubing, the top chord having a, substantial horizontal intermediate portion with ends sloping downwardly toward the sides of the journal boxes, while the bottom chod at its intermediate portion defines a catenary curve and the ends slope upwardly toward the sides of the journal boxes the ends of both chords being arranged in juxtaposition at the sides of the journal boxes and welded to the journal box sides intermediate the tops and bottoms of said boxes; load distributing plates secured to the ends of both chords and to the sides of the journal boxes and arranged to extend a/cmss the tops of the journal boxes; vertically disposed gusset members welded to the tops and sides of the distributing plates in overlapping relation with. the sides of both chords and welded thereto: and a U-shape stirrup disposed between the top chord and the curved portion of the bottom chord, with the ends of the stirrup intimately secured to the top chord while the curved portion of the stirrup loosely rests on the curved portion of the bottom chord.

3. A car truck side frame comprising, in combination with a pair of journal boxes, a truss forming top chord and a bottom chord of.steel tubing, the ends of the two chords being arranged in juxtaposition at the sides of the journal boxes; angular load distributing plates secured to the ends of the chords and to the sides of the journal boxes with the angular portion disposed across the tops of the journal boxes and secured thereto, said plates being provided with a plurality 0i gussets overlapping the sides of the chords and intimately secured thereto.

4. A car truck side frame comprising, in combination with a pair oi Journal boxes, a truss forming top chord and a bottom chord of steel tubing, with the ends of the chords arranged in juxtaposition adjacent the sides of the journal boxes and intimately secured thereto, the bottom chord being formed to deilne a catenary curve; a single pieceI stirrup whose lower end deiines the curvature of the bottom chord, the upper ends of the stirrup being intimately united with the top chord while the bottom of the stirrup rests loosely on the curved portion of the bottom chord; and a transversely curved spring plank loosely mounted onvthe curved bottom of the stirrup with its sides spaced from the sides ot the stirrup. v

5. A car truck side frame comprising, in combination with a pair of journal boxes, a truss forming top chord and a bottom chord of steel tubing, the ends of the chords being bent toward each other and arranged in juxtaposition at the sides of the journal boxes intermediate the tops and bottoms thereof, the ends of the chords being slotted; a plurality of gussets intimately secured to the sides and to the tops of the journal boxes with certain of the gussets arranged at opposite sides of the chords and intimately secured thereto, while the intermediate gussets extend into the slots of the chords and are intimately secured in place; -and a single piece U-shape stirrup whose upper ends are intimately secured to the top chord while the bottom rests loosely on the bottom chord.

6. A car truck side frame with journal boxes at the ends comprising top and bottom tubular chords with the intermediate portion of the bottom chord deilning a deflection curve, th'e ends oi the chords being arranged in contact with each other at the sides of the journal boxes intermediate the tops and bottoms thereof; spaced gusset members iormed -to t the sides and tops of the journal boxes and to overlap the sides of the chords, said members being intimately secured to the chords and to the adjacent sides and tops of the journalboxes; and a U-shape stirrup whose curvature corresponds to the deflection curve of the lower chord and loosely rests thereon, the side edges of the stirrup having outwardly disposed ilanges arranged in overlapping relation. with opposite sides of the bottom chord, while the upper'ends of the stirrup are socketed to receive the top chord and are intimately secured thereto.

7. A car truck truss side frame with journal boxes at the ends, comprising arched top and bottom tubular chords with thebottom chord delning a deection curve and provided with an upstanding lug, the ends of the chords being arranged in juxtaposition against the sides of the journal boxes intermediate the tops and bottoms thereof, gusset members formed to extend acrosi the tops and throughout the sides of the journal boxes in overlapping relation with the ends of the chords and intimately secured to the journal boxes and to the chords; a U-shape stirrup l whose ends are rigidly secured to the top chord while the curved lower portion of the stirrup corresponds to the curvature of the bottom chord and loosely rests thereon, the curved portion being provided with an opening to receive said lug; and a spring plank transversely curved to correspond to the curvature of the stirrup and loosely mounted therein with the sides of the plank spaced from the sides of the stirrup and the ends of the plank provided with openings to receive the lug of the bottom chord, whereby the plank is held against lateral displacement.

8. A car truck side frame with journal boxes at the ends comprising top and bottom tubular chords with the intermediate portion of the bottom chord dening a deection curve, the ends of the chords being arranged in contact with each other at the sides of the journal boxes; spaced gusset members formed to extend about the tops l0 and sides of the journal boxes and to overlap the sides of the chords and intimately secured to the chords and to the tops and sides of the journal boxes; a U-shape stirrup whose curvature corresponds to the deflection curve of the bottom chord and loosely rests thereon, the upper ends of the stirrup being welded to the top chord, and a vertically disposed lug-and-socket connection between the curved portions of the bottom chord and the stirrup.

KARL F. NYSTROM. 

